Arsenal’s Real Offer for Ollie Watkins Revealed – Villa’s Strong Response

Arsenal’s pursuit of Ollie Watkins has taken a twist as Aston Villa firmly rejected their initial bid. Despite reports suggesting a £60m offer, new details reveal that Arsenal’s opening proposal was much lower—leading to an angry reaction from Villa.

Arsenal’s Bid for Ollie Watkins: The Real Numbers

Arsenal are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements with Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka sidelined due to injuries. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that the club is actively searching for a new forward in the January transfer window.

🚨 The Gunners have been linked with:

• Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
• Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig)
• Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

The Daily Mail initially reported an undisclosed bid for Watkins, while Fabrizio Romano suggested the figure was £60m, which was instantly rejected by Aston Villa.

However, further reports from The Times and The Telegraph claim that:

• Arsenal’s first offer was just £40m, far below expectations.
• Villa countered with a £60m valuation, but some reports suggest they want over £80m.
• The Gunners later upped their bid to £45m, which was still dismissed outright.

🔴 Villa’s firm stance? Ollie Watkins is NOT for sale.

Aston Villa’s Transfer Plans: Strengthen, Not Weaken

While Villa have rejected Arsenal’s advances for Watkins, they are open to selling Jhon Duran, who is close to a €77m (£64.5m) move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Rather than losing both key attackers, Villa are looking to reinforce their frontline. Their transfer targets include:
✅ Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)
✅ Marco Asensio (Paris Saint-Germain)
✅ Joao Felix (Chelsea – on loan at Barcelona last season)

Villa’s Champions League ambitions mean they are not willing to let Watkins leave, especially mid-season.

What’s Next for Arsenal?

With Villa standing firm, Arsenal might turn their attention elsewhere. They are still monitoring:

• Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
• Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig)

But will Arsenal return with an improved bid for Watkins, or will they shift focus to other targets?

💬 Should Arsenal go all-in for Watkins, or is there a better option out there? Let us know in the comments!